Imports?

[poopie poo]

My 1999 Volvo import ex-Singapore which Dog & Lemon Guide said was "Dodgy" was surprisingly reliable. Now with 215k on the odometer and still going strong.

Almost all Volvo imports had built-in phones as standard and the NZ new ones did not. I rememeber my first Japanese made jap import had electric windows, again not standard on the NZ new models.

Re humidity and electrics issue - there may be some truth there but Auckland ain't that dry either and having 4 seasons probably puts us on par. My brother use to lift the lid on his Audi to cool it down after driving home. I challenged him that once the engine has stopped you are not adding anymore heat, by lifting the lid would expose the engine to a sudden change in temperature which may arguably make it worse.

NZ conditions? - The only condition I would feel that was different if I was a car was the horrible chip seal roads (IMHO should be banned) most of you would hear driving out of town and the only variant that would fix that would be the suspension, but I doubt NZ new are any different suspension wise on most makes. IMO a 'NZ new' car would experience a harder life and more proned to paint chips from NZ chip "sealed" roads which are not even used in most developing countries. Later model imports may be more tolerant to Ethanol blends.

Power - Singapore imports would take a back seat here. Road user and registration charges increase exponentially with the engine capacity. But if you were buying a lower cc base model I dont think you would be that much worse.

Benefits of NZ new are usually the options like Sat Nav, TV, Video and Radio (Japan). Imports would require new software and maybe new hardware for these to work. If you are into Euro plates, they will not fit on some Japanese imports without some mods.

[avgas]

yeah just don't beat them in their country or things will go wrong for you, just ask Toyoda san. Funny how that as soon as his car brand became number 1 they had soooo many issues. Wonder where the problematic components were built

Whom said they had a problem.
I bet you $20 now - that in 20 years time Hyundais in the US will suffer EXACTLY the same problem.

Don't believe me.....google "1980's AUDI Problem USA"
Meanwhile the rest of us still have reliable audi's from the 80's and Toyota's from 2000's........
Like herding sheep, convincing that there is a problem with a car in USA. One bark and the bastard run to the other side of the paddock.

[ducatilover]

The French aren't much better.

I'm not saying, BMC/BL got blocked out of the U.S. but rather they made it too hard for them to keep up. Look how the U.S. fucked up the MGB for the rest of us....

-Indy

they sure fucked it, they also fucked the 911 when that went to ugly bumpers, '73 also I think?

NZ conditions? - The only condition I would feel that was different if I was a car was the horrible chip seal roads (IMHO should be banned) most of you would hear driving out of town and the only variant that would fix that would be the suspension, but I doubt NZ new are any different suspension wise on most makes. IMO a 'NZ new' car would experience a harder life and more proned to paint chips from NZ chip "sealed" roads which are not even used in most developing countries. Later model imports may be more tolerant to Ethanol blends.

Power - Singapore imports would take a back seat here. Road user and registration charges increase exponentially with the engine capacity. But if you were buying a lower cc base model I dont think you would be that much worse.

The BMW E36 (you're typical 90's 3 series) had different suspension NZ new VS JDM.
The only reason I see to keep chip seal is the price, but, I'm sure it wears faster? Ergo, laying a decent seal will cost less in the long run, take the Hutt side of the Wainuiomata hill for example, that was done when I was a young chap there (Lived in Wainui ) and haven't heard any big problems, plus the surface offers a far better grip co-efficient in the wet and dry.
Singapore cars did seem to have smaller motors, most E39/E34 BMW 5 series you see from there are the 2.0/2.2 6 cyl and the E38 7 series tend to be the 2.8 6 cyl and the 3.0 V8.
Not all of them have issues, my flat mate had a '95 520i Individual spec from Singapore, lovely car, not very grunty though, it was immaculate and beautiful to drive, the only fault it had wad the typical M50 motor fuel pump died, cheap to get if you know what you're doing, or just go after market...on the other hand his current UZZ31 Toyota Soarer V8 is NZ new, high spec (as usual), great car to drive, even with the factory air bag suspension isn't as comfy or nimble and is noisier on the road, plus it's had multiple problems, speed sensor, LCD screen back light, runs rich intermittently

Whom said they had a problem.
I bet you $20 now - that in 20 years time Hyundais in the US will suffer EXACTLY the same problem.

Don't believe me.....google "1980's AUDI Problem USA"
Meanwhile the rest of us still have reliable audi's from the 80's and Toyota's from 2000's........
Like herding sheep, convincing that there is a problem with a car in USA. One bark and the bastard run to the other side of the paddock.

I have no doubt about the Hyundai problem surfacing, it's bad, because Hyundai make some great cars, the E/Lantra range since they did their own design were good little cars. The Sonata V6 is making 173Kw and is priced very, very competitively, looks good too and has a huge amount of options.
I have a mate who had an 86 5EGT Coupe and an 82/3 5SGT Coupe, both delicious cars,the noise is pant ripping... The 86 5EGT had 414,000km on the clock when the motor gave up the ghost, it had been beaten and thrashed on old oil. He threw another motor in (2.0 instead of 2.2 ) and it's happily going till this day, plus they do not rust except for one spot, I love them! They don't go, stop, handle, but they have character!